The same rough weather that likely contributed to the crash of AirAsia Flight 8501 is wreaking havoc on the search for plane wreckage and passenger bodies.

After a brief respite from foul weather on Thursday morning, high winds and waves hammered vessels in the search area, prevented divers from entering the water and helicopters were unable to fly. The weather is expected to get worse in the coming days as the area is entering the wettest part of the rainy season.